DATE:  January 29, 2010

SIBL To Hold Player Registration Sessions for 2010 Season

            SWANSEA – The Swansea Independent Baseball League will hold two open player registration sessions in February for the 2010 playing season for boys and girls of ages 4 through 12 years.

           According to President David Hadad, the SIBL will host player registration sessions Thursday, Feb. 11, and Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. both nights at the Swansea School Administration Building located at the intersection of Main Street, Gardner’s Neck Road and Hortonville Road (across the street from the Swansea Dam). Players born on or between May 1, 1997, and April 30, 2006, will be eligible to compete in the SIBL this year.

            All registrants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; must present proof of birth; and must pay the league’s player registration fees. Swansea residents as well as non-Swansea residents are welcome to enroll.

            According to Hadad, the February sessions will service both new registrants as well as renewal registrants (players who competed in the SIBL last season and who are eligible to return this year). Registration can also be completed online through the league’s Web site at www.sibl.net.

            The SIBL will operate its 34^th successive season of competition in 2010 with five separate playing divisions – Instructional (primarily 4-year-old players), Pinto (5- and 6-year olds), Mustang (7- and 8-year-olds), Bronco National (9- and 10-year-olds) and Bronco American (11- and 12-year-olds). The league offers players full regular-season schedules, uniforms, equipment and additional playing opportunities.

            The SIBL’s playing structure gradually introduces youngsters to baseball fundaments and competition on diamonds specifically designed for each age group. Its signature division – the Bronco Divisions – allows players to compete according to Major League Baseball rules, providing them with a decisive competitive advantage as they progress to higher levels of baseball.

            The SIBL is an affiliate of PONY Baseball and AAU Baseball and annually fields teams in local and regional tournaments. League teams have qualified for World Series play on eight different occasions, including the 2009 season.

            The SIBL is based at the Nike Site Playing Complex in Swansea, which features five playing fields, two batting cages and auxiliary facilities.

All questions concerning the SIBL should be directed to Hadad at 401-241-2332 or 1^st Vice President Michael Cooper at 508-822-8739.

  DATE: January 27, 2010

SIBL To Host First Round of National Competition

          SWANSEA – The Swansea Independent Baseball League has been selected to serve as a host organization for the first-round of the 2010 Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Contest.

          According to President David Hadad, the SIBL will host a Local-level competition Saturday, May 1, at the Nike Site Playing Complex in Swansea . Boys and girls of ages 7 through 14 years will be eligible to participate free of charge for the opportunity to advance to higher levels of competition.

          Winners at the Local competition will advance to a Sectional competition a few weeks later and the opportunity to qualify for a Team Championship competition in June at Fenway Park in Boston . Team Championship victors will earn berths in the National Finals to be held July 12 through 14 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim , Calif. , in conjunction with festivities related to the annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

          According to Hadad, the Local competition at the Nike Site will be open to all local residents and will not be restricted to just SIBL registrants. Further information about the competition will be disclosed shortly.